Belfast was hit by further rioting last night at the end of a weekend that saw some of the worst violence in the North for several years. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, and Mark Brennock report
Some 700 loyalists took to the streets late last night and attacked police. Petrol bombers hurled devices at security lines on the Albertbridge Road in east Belfast. One police officer was injured. Nearly 100 masked men also attacked police on the nearby Ardoyne Road.
The PSNI confirmed that "a number" of new-style plastic bullets were used against the rioters. One officer was injured. A mechanical digger was also taken by rioters and used to rob a bank ATM.
In Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast, rioters returned to the streets to pelt police with petrol bombs. A bank in the Cloughfern Corner area was set alight. There was also trouble in the Ballyclare Road area of Glengormley.
On Saturday, one civilian was shot and another critically hurt by a blast bomb. Over 30 police officers were injured in the rioting which followed the rerouting of the Whiterock Orange march and more than 50 shots were fired at PSNI and British army lines in west Belfast.
Security forces returned fire with seven live rounds, and some 430 new-style plastic bullets. Further trouble flared across Co Antrim.
There was strong reaction yesterday from the Government to the rioting. The Taoiseach said "that whatever grievances people may have, there is absolutely no justification for violence". Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said Saturday's violence was "a huge effort to intimidate nationalist communities, who fear very much for the future". Minister for Justice Michael McDowell warned that elements in both communities were "playing a game of polarisation".
The PSNI chief constable said the violence was "one of the most dangerous riot situations in the history of policing in the United Kingdom."
Placing most of the blame on the Orange Order, he said: "We did not call anyone on to the streets of Belfast, and those that did must bear substantial responsibility for the disorder that became inevitable with the catalyst of a disputed march... We are also clear that UDA and UVF factions were out there taking advantage of that situation."
A PSNI source said police had video evidence of Orange involvement in the rioting.
DUP leader Rev Ian Paisley said the trouble was provoked by the rerouting. "The Parades Commission are to blame for the mess that has been created." Sir Reg Empey, the Ulster Unionist leader, denied unionist parties had used inflammatory language.
"I have been working throughout the week to avoid the sort of deplorable violence that has taken place. While I'm always sympathetic to police, I am shocked at some of tactics being used."